City of Seattle residential customers paid an average of 14.09¢/kWh in 2024 —
18% above the Washington average of 11.91¢/kWh (EIA-861).
It served 459,964 residential customers across 1 WA county.
Territories are fixed by address, but the cheapest nearby utility, PUD No 1 of Chelan County (3.67¢), works out about $1,125/yr less at 10,800 kWh/yr.
How City of Seattle compares with the utilities next door
| Utility | 2024 ¢/kWh | Customers | Δ vs City of Seattle, ¢/kWh | $/yr difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PUD No 1 of Chelan County | 3.67 | 42,120 | -10.42 | -$1,125 |
| City of Tacoma | 10.81 | 180,357 | -3.27 | -$354 |
| City of Seattle (this page) | 14.09 | 459,964 | — | — |
| Puget Sound Energy Inc | 14.63 | 1,091,599 | +0.55 | +$59 |
3 bundled utilities (≥5,000 customers) share at least one county with City of Seattle. Positive $/yr = that utility's customers pay more than City of Seattle customers at the same usage. Territories are fixed by address — these gaps measure cost differences between areas, not options you can pick between.
Where City of Seattle customers pay more (county benchmark)
| County | Cheapest utility in county | Their ¢/kWh | City of Seattle premium, $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| King | PUD No 1 of Chelan County | 3.67 | +$1,125 |
Multiple utilities in one county means adjoining territories, not household choice — you cannot switch wires companies.
Rate trend and size
| Metric | 2023 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average price, ¢/kWh | 12.78 | 14.09 | +10.2% |
| Residential customers | 451,055 | 459,964 | +2.0% |
Ownership: Municipal. Statewide context: Washington electricity rates.
Supply vs delivery on a City of Seattle bill
Washington is a regulated retail market — City of Seattle customers cannot choose a different supplier; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings. Official information: utc.wa.gov.
Counties served (WA, EIA-861 2024)
King
Head-to-head comparisons
Questions people ask
- Is City of Seattle more expensive than other Washington utilities?
- City of Seattle customers paid an average 14.09 cents/kWh in 2024 — 18% above the Washington volume-weighted average of 11.91 cents (EIA-861, bundled residential service).
- Can I switch away from City of Seattle?
- No — distribution territory is fixed by address and Washington has no residential supplier shopping. Rate changes go through the state utility commission (utc.wa.gov).
- How many customers does City of Seattle have?
- 459,964 residential customers in Washington in 2024, per its EIA-861 federal filing. Ownership type: municipal.
About these numbers. Rates shown are averages computed from federal regulatory filings (EIA Form 861)
and public tariff databases — confirm with your utility before making decisions; your actual rate depends on your tariff,
usage, and riders. Distribution utility is determined by address and generally cannot be chosen; in retail-choice states
you may choose your supplier for the supply portion of the bill. Savings figures use 10,800 kWh/yr
(US average residential usage) and are estimates, not quotes. EnergySavings is an independent data project by CertiHomes
and is not affiliated with any utility, supplier, or government agency.